The castle was probably founded in the early Middle Ages in the 9th or 10th century. Despite the fact that it was one of the largest castle complexes in the administrative district of Hanover at the time, no name of the castle is mentioned in contemporary documents to this day.
What is known, however, is that there was a monastery with a circular rampart there in the 13th century. The so-called Premonstratensian Abbey was founded in 1218. This was followed by a reformation and finally the dissolution of the monastery of the Count of Hoya in 1543. From 1563 to 1620, the farm building and the country estate belonged to the Bruchhausen widow's residence of the last Countess of Hoya. Years later, in the second half of the 17th century, the Dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg used the castle as a summer residence and for hunting. As early as 1794, the Forsthaus was licensed to serve beer after the building was converted into the equestrian forester's official residence. Finally, the Forsthaus restaurant was opened in 1966 and a hotel was added in 1999.
Thanks to its natural surroundings and unique, idyllic atmosphere, Heiligenberg is now a popular vacation destination and a popular hiking destination.
Excavations on the Heiligenberg
Excavations were carried out on the Heiligenberg in 2018 and 2019. The finds included parts of masonry, fragments of roof tiles, glass and pieces of pottery and porcelain (some with a gold rim), which indicate food and cooking utensils and therefore provide a small insight into the life of the canons. Thanks to the impressive expertise of those involved, it was possible to classify the finds historically. As part of the 800th anniversary celebrations of Heiligenberg in 2019 to mark the founding of the Premonstratensian monastery, historians presented the results of the investigation and the knowledge gained from it.
Ring wall
The ring wall is also an important cultural monument. The rampart is around 8 meters high and encircles the so-called main castle, i.e. the main area, which is around 3.5 hectares in size. Today's Forsthaus restaurant is located here. At that time, the rampart probably served to protect the population. All of the ramparts and ditches are now under forest cover and are used as a walking trail.
What is known, however, is that there was a monastery with a circular rampart there in the 13th century. The so-called Premonstratensian Abbey was founded in 1218. This was followed by a reformation and finally the dissolution of the monastery of the Count of Hoya in 1543. From 1563 to 1620, the farm building and the country estate belonged to the Bruchhausen widow's residence of the last Countess of Hoya. Years later, in the second half of the 17th century, the Dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg used the castle as a summer residence and for hunting. As early as 1794, the Forsthaus was licensed to serve beer after the building was converted into the equestrian forester's official residence. Finally, the Forsthaus restaurant was opened in 1966 and a hotel was added in 1999.
Thanks to its natural surroundings and unique, idyllic atmosphere, Heiligenberg is now a popular vacation destination and a popular hiking destination.
Excavations on the Heiligenberg
Excavations were carried out on the Heiligenberg in 2018 and 2019. The finds included parts of masonry, fragments of roof tiles, glass and pieces of pottery and porcelain (some with a gold rim), which indicate food and cooking utensils and therefore provide a small insight into the life of the canons. Thanks to the impressive expertise of those involved, it was possible to classify the finds historically. As part of the 800th anniversary celebrations of Heiligenberg in 2019 to mark the founding of the Premonstratensian monastery, historians presented the results of the investigation and the knowledge gained from it.
Ring wall
The ring wall is also an important cultural monument. The rampart is around 8 meters high and encircles the so-called main castle, i.e. the main area, which is around 3.5 hectares in size. Today's Forsthaus restaurant is located here. At that time, the rampart probably served to protect the population. All of the ramparts and ditches are now under forest cover and are used as a walking trail.
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Mittelweser-Touristik GmbH
Lange Straße 18
31582 Nienburg/Weser
Organization
Mittelweser-Touristik GmbH
License (master data)
Mittelweser-Touristik GmbH
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